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Policy and states

The effectiveness of migration policies is highly contested. We examine the changing role of origin and destination states’ in migration processes by analysing their explicit attempts to intervene through migration policies and the impact of other policy areas, such as trade and taxation. Our research helps to understand why policies often fail to meet their stated objectives.

Drivers and dynamics

Development processes shape human mobility in fundamental and often counter-intuitive ways. We examine how internal and international migration is driven by wider social, economic, technological and political transformations. Our research challenges assumptions that development will reduce migration and the sedentary foundations of much research and policy.

Development, inequality and change

Migration has fundamental implications for development and social change in destination and origin countries. We analyse how migration affects social, cultural and economic change as well as patterns of inequality. We focus on understanding why migration has more positive outcomes in some contexts, while more negative outcomes in others.

Diasporas and identity

Globalisation has dramatically increased the scope for migrants and their descendants to sustain long-distance links with origin societies, often over generations. We focus on how diasporas are formed; their impact on identity; the roles of migrant and diaspora organisations; and whether diasporas challenge classical models of immigrant integration and the nation state.

IMI analyses migration as an intrinsic part of broader global transformation processes rather than a problem to be solved. Such understanding can provide the basis for policies designed to fully realise the potential benefits of migration for individuals and societies